Helen Joyce "Mamaw Joyce" Ragan

1934 - 2018

Mamaw Joyce, 84, of Oneonta, passed away Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2018, at her residence.
Mamaw Joyce was born during the Depression and was the oldest of five girls and two boys. While she was in the sixth grade, her mother became ill and she was forced to quit school to help care for her siblings. She married in 1958 and focused her energy on building her own family. Years later, her husband became a paraplegic for seven years. After his death, with very little education and job skills, she became part of the work force and did her best to raise her three teens alone. She was up for the challenge because the world she lived in made her tough and able to handle anything.
In Mamaw Joyce's lifetime, she witnessed 14 Presidents, WWII, The Bombing of Pearl Harbor, The Korean War, The Vietnam War, Desert Storm, the fall of The Twin Towers and The War on Terrorism. Even though her life was hard, she was the most loving, caring, and gentle soul. Her love and legacy will live on through the hearts of many.
Mamaw Joyce is survived by her children - Wanda Wilson, Terry Ragan (Dedra), Vinnie Harper (Jeff), and Carolyn Morgan; eight grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild and one great-great-grandchild on the way.
She is preceded in death by her husband, Buck Ragan; her grandson, Keith Harper; her parents, J.D. and Estelle (Elldge) Smith; her brothers, Billy Smith and James Smith; and her sister, Ellen Miller.
Brother Jerry Beasley will conduct the funeral service on Sunday, Dec. 9, 2018, at 3 p.m. from the graveside at Wynnville Cemetery, with Snead Funeral Home Directing. There will be no visitation.